Arizona Wildcats basketball team expected to be more guard-oriented next season

The Arizona Wildcats could have a new look next season, and not just because of all their new faces.

With newcomers Brandon Williams and Justin Coleman possibly leading the way, the Wildcats might now feature a more perimeter-oriented attack that will also feature returning wings such as Brandon Randolph, Dylan Smith, and Emmanuel Akot.

“If it wasn’t for Arizona, that’s probably where he would have gone. ... It was a perfect fit for him over there.”

Chris Wright, Brandon Williams’ stepfather, says of ASU

“He’s gonna be utilized with the ball in his hands,” Chris Wright, Williams’ stepfather, said of the way UA coach Sean Miller described how he would deploy the four-star point guard from Los Angeles. “He’ll be the primary ballhandler and (Miller is) going to go to a more guard-oriented offensive system. Having two 7-footers is over.”

While announcing his re-commitment on Saturday, Williams also said his choice was about “where my heart first led me.” While Williams did not return a message from the Star seeking comment, he expanded on that reasoning in a video interview with Rivals.com’s Goazcats.

“I just thought about where I could be truly happy and be with a coaching staff that really supports me,” Williams said. “Arizona was the school for me.”

“At the time of the decommitment, what made us really want to look around was not the initial FBI inquiry, but when that second report came out,” Wright said.

“That triggered a thought that ‘Maybe it’s time to step out and take a look around.’ “

Wright said Miller soon after visited to offer his side of things, but the family went on to consider other schools. Williams visited ASU the weekend of April 6, then checked out Oregon the weekend of April 14 and Gonzaga the weekend of April 28 before taking another week to announce his decision.

“Having two 7-footers is over.”

Chris Wright, Brandon Williams’ stepfather

While Gonzaga, Oregon and Arizona were Williams’ three finalists, Wright said it was really ASU that Arizona beat out — maybe because of that feeling in Williams’ heart.

“If it wasn’t for Arizona, that’s probably where he would have gone,” Wright said of ASU. “It was a perfect fit for him over there. (Coach Bobby Hurley) let’s those guards play. But after that trip, Brandon was like 'Man, I just can’t do it. It’s just too close.'"

“They’re great,” Williams told Rivals of his new teammates. “Chase going against Deandre (Ayton) every practice, that’s only going to get you better. You see flashes of Brandon Randolph here and there and you see Ira is a hustle rebounder, a hustle guy doing all the garbage work. You fill in all those pieces and then you have me coming in, I think that’s going to be big for us.”

Brown getting closer

Of course, the Wildcats might also have a go-to weapon up front if they can manage to land their top remaining 2018 target, five-star Northern California forward Jordan Brown. Dion Brown, Jordan’s father, told Zagsblog his son is still deciding whether or not he’ll take a final official visit and is “looking at about a week or two” before making a decision.

Brown is considering Nevada, Cal and Arizona among his final choices but he has only one official (paid) visit remaining to take. He has already visited Nevada unofficially and Cal officially but not Arizona.